Police drug search at Algonquin Regional comes up empty

NORTHBORO - Police said no illegal drugs were found during an announced search at Algonquin Regional High School today.

Police Chief Mark K. Leahy said Northboro and Southboro police officers and school administrators used five state police narcotics detection dogs to search the entire school and vehicles in the parking lot within 16 minutes.

"I am very pleased to report that no illegal drugs were found, either inside the school building or vehicles parked in the school parking lot," the chief said in a news release this morning.

He said that for quality assurance, drugs were concealed in a specific locker to test the dogs' skills. Each dog separately alerted on the locker that held the sample, he said.

The chief announced Tuesday that the search would be conducted. He said he was fed up with parents who argued that police were ruining their child's life. Students will not be notified of subsequent searches, he said.

"Plans for the next unannounced search have already begun, as promised," he said.

Selectman Aaron A. Hutchins was happy to hear the good news. Mr. Hutchins, a lawyer, is son of retired Police Chief Kenneth Hutchins.

"Excellent news! Hope the unannounced search goes similarly," he said in an email

Contact Elaine Thompson at ethompson@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter at EThompsonTG